Universal Will Make a New 3D Animated Feature Version of ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’

Briefly: Ron Howard and Jim Carrey’s live-action version of How the Grinch Stole Christmas, from 2000, isn’t the most beloved movie out there — why watch that one when the original Chuck Jones animated version is so much more charming? — but it does have fans, and it made money.

But The Lorax made more money, and so now Universal, Chris Meledandri, and Illumination Entertainment are going to make a new 3D animated version of the Dr. Seuss classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas, to follow up on Illumination’s other Seuss adaptations. Deadline says that Meledandri is producing with Pete Candeland set to direct. There’s no writer on board yet. Expect to see the film for Christmas 2014 at the earliest.

Don't know what to think about this. I feel like Jim Carrey nailed the Grinch with his performance in the live-action movie, in a way nobody else can. I would like to see him do the voice again, simply because he's perfect. The question that keeps popping up in my head is : Do we need this, again?

Don't know what to think about this. I feel like Jim Carrey nailed the Grinch with his performance in the live-action movie, in a way nobody else can. I would like to see him do the voice again, simply because he's perfect. The question that keeps popping up in my head is : Do we need this, again?

Well, for the loud mainstream warping of pseudo-Seuss that the Lorax and Horton managed, COULD it actually outdo the obnoxious and hyperactive heresy of the Ron Howard movie?
Tough call, but think it'd just be a lateral move at best.

Fact is, Illumination stuck themselves in a rut before they had any other ideas, and now Meledandri can only think Horton and Minions if Illumination is going to make any other projects, as Universal now has the entire studio-identity franchise riding on him to do.
Might as well get used to it now, we're probably likely to get an animated Cat in the Hat after this, because Chris believes he's doing the "real" version of the story, and to de-historize the Mike Myers version.

(I suppose the idea of Bartholomew Cubbins has never ONCE occurred to either producer? )

Finally, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas offers a newly-imagined version of the enduring holiday classic. Set for release on November 17, 2017, it will be directed by Pete Candeland and will feature an adapted screenplay by Michael LeSieur. The film will be produced by Meledandri and Healy and executive produced by Audrey Geisel.

Illumination Entertainment and Universal Pictures’ Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas has been pushed by a full year from November 10, 2017, to November 9, 2018. This isn’t anything to be alarmed by, rather the nature of animation projects. Getting them right takes time, and the next-best corridor for this film was the following year.

The Grinch has no head-to-head competition in its new slot, but will tangle with Warner Bros’ Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them 2 on November 16, 2018.